EDITO - Catholic Diocese of Daru-Kiunga

October 2018, # 229

EDITO
Dear Friends and Benefactors,

The journey of fifty years that the Brothers of St. Gabriel have walked with the Daughters of
Wisdom and the Montfort Missionaries has been an on-going source of rich blessings for
themselves, for the other Montfortian Families and for all our people. To decide to do mission
work in such a remote and under developed place as the Western Province in Papua New
Guinea is an act of faith and trust in God. To decide to come and contribute to establish the
Catholic Church in so big a territory and without roads is a daring move. We say that when we
work together we are strong. And we needed to be strong to carry out our mission here. The
members of our three Montfortian Congregations always gave strength to one another. We never gave up on the
life-giving presence of God. With the grace of God, we never gave up on the good people of the Western Province.
Our motto was like the one of St. Gabriel Technical Secondary School: we can and we will. God is really good.
The first Brothers came from Canada. Then some Brothers came from Singapore and Malaysia and finally they came
from India. Altogether 38 Brothers of St. Gabriel came to work in our Diocese.
The Brothers have been involved first of all in the education of our children. Many of our adults are grateful that at
a time during their life as students they were educated by one brother or by many Brothers. One aspect that has
marked them for life is that the Brothers were trying their very best not only to give them good knowledge but also
to build them up as mature persons, persons able to take on responsibility and bring growth to the Church and
development to their people.
Besides education work the Brothers were involved in many other ministries and services. One was a pilot and
electrician; one was captain on our boats for many years; one was responsible for the school of catechists and later
became a priest; one was a jack of all trade, a good mechanic and able to construct our first bore wells; one was an
excellent music teacher; one was a locksmith and good at directing the singing in the church; one was looking after
the youth for many years; one plan and built Boys’Town; one work at Boys’Town and spend hundreds of hours on
the bulldozer levelling the ground for the play field; one was a member of our Diocesan Pastoral Team for 8 years;
one upgraded Boys’Town to a High School level and another one brought it up to the level of a secondary school;
one was parish priest at Iowara for two years; one was in charge of our border students in Daru; and it goes on and
on……
For me what is more important is that they were here in the name of Jesus and always tried to be good followers of
Montfort their founder. And above all they were not here to gain anything for themselves but at the service of the
people and of Jesus living in the people.
Dear Brothers of St. Gabriel, thank you for that beautiful journey of fifty years with us and our people. Thank you for
still being with us today. Myself, bishop Gilles and my people, we hope and pray that more Brothers will come to our
diocese because the needs are so many and various, and we badly need good laborers to make the values of God’s
Kingdom always take deeper roots in the hearts of our people.
I know that you love Mother Mary. This is shown in so many ways. She also has been walking with you that journey,
as well as Montfort. They cannot but be pleased with all your achievements for the people and with the people.
May the good Lord be very generous to you all with his blessings especially with the blessing of local vocations! And
may your exciting and gratifying journey with the people of the Western Province in the diocese of Daru-Kiunga
continue for many years!                                                                Bishop Gilles, s.m.m.

Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel celebrate their Golden Jubilee in Kiunga.
The Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel colourfully celebrated their Golden Jubilee in Kiunga, Western Province at
the very beginning of September. The highlight of the celebration included the presence of special invited
dignitaries near and abroad; Arch bishop, Kurian M. Vayalunkal, Apostolic Nuncio, Bro. John Kallarackal, Superior
General from Rome, Bro. Ronald Brissette from Canada, Bro. John Ekka, Provincial Superior and his delegation
from Delhi Province in India.
The focus of the Jubilee was to reflect, appreciate and celebrate the arrival of the Montfort Brothers of St.
Gabriel in the Western Province and their tremendous involvement and contributions in education since 1968.
The celebrations officially commenced on Sunday with a thanksgiving Mass attended by thousands of people
followed by presentation of gifts, speeches, dances and culminating with a fellowship meal.
It was evident that the education in Western Province since the beginning was accredited and acknowledged by
all to the Brothers of St. Gabriel who dedicated their efforts in educating many people till now. Their mission
started in Daru Island with Brothers from Canada and gradually moved to Kiunga. The Brothers from Malaysia-
Singapore pioneered the mission in Kiunga and then relayed it over to the Brothers from India. Their mission
included running of Boys' Town for disadvantaged boys, managing CODE for school leavers, running community
schools and are currently managing St. Gabriel Technical Secondary School in Kiunga and St Charles Lwanga
secondary School in Port Moresby.
As a sign of gratitude, the people presented gifts, expressed appreciation through speeches by prominent
representatives, including special recognition and cash donation from the Fly River Provincial Administration on
behalf of the people of Western Province. The Brothers affectionately accepted the gifts and expressed their
on-going mission in providing quality and excellent education service to the people of Papua New Guinea. Thank
you Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel for your great contribution in the field of education, evangelization and
human promotion. May God richly bless each one of you and all your valuable contributions.
                                                                                  Fr. Andrew Moses, Vicar General
Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel
The Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel came to Papua New Guinea, especially in Western Province in January 10th,
1968. The pioneer Brothers came from Canada. They came in order to start a school for the young students here in
Daru-Kiunga Diocese.
Without delay they started their mission in Daru by constructing classrooms. After some years they moved to Kiunga
and stablished the school at Montfort Boys' Town as it was called those past days until the name changed to St.
Gabriel Technical Secondary School as now.
During those past 50 years the three different groups of Brothers came from different entities like Canada, Singapore-
Malaysia and India to teach and form the students. They took so many risks to develop the place. They have really
lived the motto of their Founder Montfort, “If you don’t take risk you won’t do great things for him”. I do believe
that these Brothers have lived the values of their Founder in a very realistic, simple and in a very meaningful way.
Actions speaks louder than words as the expression says. Congratulation Brothers! With you, we say “Deo Gratias”
Different Brothers came from different parts of the world to celebrate that memorable day. Bro. John, the Superior
General of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel was present, the Provincial Superior of Delhi, Bro. James, Bro. Ronald
from Canada, Bro. Raj from Singapore-Malaysia who was one of the pioneers to the mission and various Brothers
came from India representing different schools where they are working. They all came to celebrate these 50 long
years of service in Daru-Kiunga Diocese. Some have planted the seed and it is flourishing today and all hope it will
continue for the next 50 years as this dream was expressed by many during the celebration.
To say Deo Gratias for the past 50 years, the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel had their Golden Jubilee celebration
on the 2nd of September, 2018 at St. Gerard Cathedral, Kiunga. All gave thanks for the hard work that they have
accomplished.
Before the entrance procession, the Brothers presented a power point of their achievement from the beginning till
today. It was very enriching and moving to see the wonderful results of all their hard work.
The main celebrant of the Holy Eucharistic thanksgiving mass was his Excellency Kurian. M. Vayalunkal, Apostolic
Nuncio to PNG & SI and the co-celebrant was Most Reverend Bishop Gilles Cote, smm, the Bishop of Daru Kiunga
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Diocese, accompanied by the priests of the Diocese, religious from various Congregations and the many Christians
who came to express their gratitude.
The theme of their Jubilee mass was “Thank the Lord, one with God serving people”. The mass began with the
entrance ritual procession with the Brothers, celebrant, co-celebrant, priests and the altar servers. The ritual
procession began by Yongom tribe, followed by Ningerum tribe and the Awin tribe to the church. The Bible
procession was presented by the Fiwol tribe. The Nuncio began the celebration and, in his homily, he gave the
greetings of the Pope to the Christians telling them that Pope is praying for the people of PNG and Solomon Island.
He continued on with the gospel of the day on being disciple of Christ is to bring the Good News to wherever we are.
Christ assured his disciples that he will be with them every day and that applies to each one of us today. Christ is with
us in our mission. He encouraged the people to live this mission is in the family, loving each other and serving others
is our mission. In the same way the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel have come to do the mission according to their
founder St. Louis de Montfort. They were the bringer of the Good News in words and in deeds. They have come to
this land of the unexpected to proclaim the Gospel. They loved their mission that is why the Brothers are still with
you and continuing the mission of education. The Nuncio concluded by saying that this Diocese of Daru-Kiunga is a
one of the most vibrant Dioceses who is always fully alive so, continue to be vibrant in proclaiming the Good News.
Bishop translated to the elders in Motu. The offertory procession was done by the Kiwai people of Daru and the final
procession by the Boasi People.
The liturgy was excellently prepared by the students and teachers from St. Gabriel School. The celebration was fully
alive and very much meaningful.
After the liturgical celebration there was another program; it was the presentation of gifts by each tribe, parishes
and friends to the Brothers and Nuncio. During the gifts presentation, the Brother General gave a thanksgiving talk
to the people and praised the Brothers for their 50 years of proclamation of the Good news through the field of
teaching. He thanked all the people for their gifts and their participation in the celebration.
                                                                                                  Sr Cecilia Gabriel,dw
                    50 years serving the people… 3 days of celebration
                    Sunday, 2nd of September, 2018 : Solemn Mass in the Cathedral of Kiunga

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The WORD of GOD received and shared – Offertory procession

                                                             page 4

Day 2 : Cultural Feast in the College (3rd of September)

                                                                                   They speak
                                                                                   about those
                                                                                   50 years of
                                                                                     History

                        En avant-midi, un discours suivi d'une danse, pour plus de 12 fois
   From 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., speeches, dances, words of thanks, gifts for the visitors… etc.

                                                                                Brother Sevak Gabriel, director.
                                                                                Bishop Gilles Côté.
                                                                                A former border… in the very
                                                                                beginning

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Day 3 : Convivial dinner (4th of September)

AND I WAS THERE !
Many interventions from various dignitaries (alumni, current members, friends, local clergy) let me pick up a
huge bag full of good memories and thanks. Memories of the Canadian Brothers who took part in the first
Gabrielite steps along with the Montfortian family in Daru and on other places. Memories of alumni and
teachers who built and lived those 50 years of this Golden Jubilee. Thanks to each of the pioneers who in Daru,
Kiunga, elsewhere in the Diocese, who have worked for education, for evangelization, for the Church mission.
Thanks to the Montfortian Family for their support in the development. Yes, the people of Papua New Guinea
will remember the Fathers, the Brothers, the Daughters of Wisdom. (Ronald BRISSETTE, sg)
LET US HELP THIS PROJECT
                                                                     On the initiative of Sister Aurore, d.w., a
                                                                     school is taking charge of "dropouts", girls
                                                                     and boys: Emmaus Farm. In addition to
                                                                     notions of mathematics, family life, these
                                                                     young adults learn the basics of

agriculture, livestock to help them. Many of them, after this
internship of 10 months, are going back to study in a regular
school. They have regained self-confidence in them. But,
agricultural work is difficult because the ground is hard and the
instruments are often broken; even the new tractor has come
only with this harrow, a roller harrow should help preparing the
land... the buildings are old, the dormitories are too small… The
unique classroom is crowdy and small… Thank you for helping
this project.

                                        Next issue no 230
                                   November 2018, a calendar for
                                               2019